The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-05
TELEGRAPHERs IN PERIL.

How the Wires to Washington Were
Kept Open During the Baltimore
Riots.
From Washington Letter to Ne,c York Herald
Among the events of the war description
was given for the first time to your cor
respondent to-day Of the method by which
communication by telegraph was held open
between Baltimore and Washington during
the memorable riots in Baltimore on April
10, 1861.
No one outside of the principals and
those who used them ever knew how the
national government became appraised so
quickly OF what was going on. The only
telegraph company transacting business in
those days was the American and the force
consisted of manager, a dozen operators
and few clerks The operating depart
ment was in the fifth floor of building
where the Baltimore american is now pub
lished. The riot commenced on Friday
morning, April 10, 1861, just twenty-six
years ago. The Massachusetts troops,
among the first to volunteer, were passing
through Baltimore on their way to Wash
ington. Their attack by a mob and the his
tory of that riot are generally well known.
but the telegraphic portion of the history of
that day has not been thought of.
wREOKING THE OFFICE.
In less than five minutes after the North
ern soldiers had been attacked the excited
rioters dashed up the four flights of stairs
to the operating room of the telegraph office
to prevent the despatching of the news to
Washington and the consequent punishment
from national forces which would surely
follow. The operators, fearing interrupt
ton, had locked their doors, but the fren-
zied Southern sympathizers chopped their
way through with llatchets, and hacked
right and left at the wires leading out OF the
windows, their performance being greeted
with wild shouts in the streets below. The
police force Intellectually tried to make the
rioters desist in their destruction of prop
erty, but toward the afternoon every wire,
with single exceptson, was DESTROYED. This
wire fortunately led to Washington, and the
failure to break it was bne of the oversights
that occur in periods of excitement. The
telegraph men tested from time to time,
north, east, south and west and soon dis
covered that they had one wire left. They
thought it advisable Co close the downstairs
office md conceal this faee IN Qualification
TO the public that as all the wires had been
cut they could take no business for any
point
WORD FROM THE CAPITAL.
Word came from the Washington authori-
ties lnquiring whether any operator would
man this wire for the government A CON
sultation was held and one of the force was
assigned to the service. He was mere
STRIPPING and the only one who would volun-
teer for the dangerous work. He needed a
messenger to deliver his dispatches, but all
of the regular force of boys declined the
risk of travelling in the streets at night, and
only with considerable effort was a volun-
teer messenger procured. The two young
sters acted for the two nights and the one
day. anu the messenger is now one of the
most prominent citizens of Baltimore and a
leading corporation attorney. The operator
is employed in Washington with the West
ern Union Company.
With blinds closely drawn and bowling
mob few feet away the boys served the
government through Friday night, all day
Saturday, that night and through to Sun
day morning without sleep and with but
little to eat Had they been discovered they
certainly would have been hung, and the
Consciousness of this danger did not make
Their desire to sleep very strong. A great
many important dispatches passed between
the national government and Mayor Brown,
of Baltimore, who did his best to allav the
excitement ard pour oil upon the troubled
waters, which soon after subsidized.
Spinal Weakness and Lung Troubles.
80 PRINCE STREET, NEW YORK. March 25.
1SSk-Having been troubled with pains in
back end chest during the last winter, |
was compelled TO remain at home, unable to
attend 20 business, until was advised by a
friend to try one of ALLCoCK's Porous
PLAsTERs. After applying one 10 my chest
ana one TO my back IN three hours found |
relief, which ! had not got in over three |
months. l cheertully recommend them 20 |
persons having spinal weakness and lung
Jtouples. nENRY j, GALLAGHER